回流 (huí liú) — to flow back; to return (of talents, capital, etc.)

Definition

回流 is a written/formal verb for things flowing or returning to their origin — used for talent, capital, or liquids moving back to a source. Less common in everyday speech.

verb
to flow backto return (of talents, capital, etc.)

Examples

  • 回流。
    Xǔ duō hǎi wài rén cái zuì jìn huí liú le.
    Many overseas talents have recently returned.
  • 回流。
    Zhè zhǒng guǎn dào shè jì kě yǐ fáng zhǐ wū shuǐ huí liú.
    This kind of piping design can prevent sewage backflow.
  • 回流。
    Dà liàng zī jīn huí liú dào guó nèi shì chǎng.
    Large amounts of capital flow back to the domestic market.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

回huíback
流liúflow

回 means back and 流 means flow; together they describe something moving backward or returning.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐬
㐬㐬流liú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →

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